Supporting structure for trolley-wires.



PATENTED MAY 30. 1905.

Q B. J. JONES. v SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR TROLLEY WIRES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2,1904.

UNITED STATES Patented May 30, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

BUDD J. JONES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR TROLLEY-W IRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,031, dated May 30, 1905.

Application filed April 2, 1904. Serial No. 201,266.

T0 at whom, it non/y concern:

Be it known that I, BUDD J. JoNEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Supporting Structure for Trolley-Wires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to supporting structures for trolley-wires; and it has for its object to provide means whereby a trolley-wire supported by catenary suspension is prevented from unduly vibrating or swinging out of its proper position with respect .to the road-bed or track-rails and the plane of operation of the trolley-wheel.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, parts broken off, parts broken out, and parts in section, of a trolley-wire-steadying device embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective, somewhat diagrammatical, showing the application of a steadying device to a trolleywire supported by catenary suspension and embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of catenary suspension for trolley-wires to which a steadying device embodying the principles of my invention is applicable.

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In utilizing electrical energy for operating railway-vehicles at high speeds it has been roposed to employ a catenary suspension for the trolley-wire or conductor, and in this form of suspension it is customary to employ a messenger-wire which is suitably supported and to suspend the trolley-wire or conductor therefrom by suitably-spaced suspension connections.

It has been found that a trolley-wire which is freely suspended from a messengerwire is liable to be vibrated laterally by the force of the wind or otherwise to such degree as to cause the trolley to jump from it and injure or break the suspending connections or the insulators.

It is among the special urposes of my present invention to provi e steadying de vices for trolley-wires supported by catenary suspension which will prevent lateral vibration or swing of such wires when subjected to gusts of wind or other forces. In providing such a steadying device it is necessary that the same be efficiently insulated and that such device be permitted to rock or swing vertically, so as to permit the trolleywire to yield upwardly or vertically under the pressure of the trolley as a car progresses along the track. In the device shown in the accompanying drawings these objects are attained.

A designates an arm carrying a clamping device B, arranged to engage the trolleywire C. The arm A is hinged or pivoted, as at D, upon an insulator E, that is suitably supported in any convenient manner as, for instance, upon a pole F. The hinge-axis D of the strain or steadying arm A is so arranged as to permit the outer or free end of said arm, which carries the clamp B, to rock or swing vertically and at the same time to prevent the trolley-wire from swinging laterally or sidewise with respect to the road-bed.

In Fig. 2 I have shown my invention as applied to a trolley-wire supported by a catenary suspension similar to the arrangement set forth in my pendin application, Serial No. 197,982, filed March 14, 1904, renewed November 12, 1904, renewal Serial N 0. 232,526, wherein the trolley-wire C is suspended, through connections G, from a messenger-wire H, the latter being supported upon supporting-brackets J, that project laterally from the poles F.

In Fig. 3 I have shown another form of catenary suspension wherein the messengerwire H is supported by span-wires K between poles F, located on opposite sides of the road way, the trolley-wire C being suspended from the messenger-wire by flexible suspending connections G. In either case the trolleywire-steadying arm A is located below the supporting means for the messenger-wire and directly engages the trolley-wire. The steadying-arm is insulated, but is mounted to rock or swing in a vertical plane.

The trolley-wire-steadying device above described is designed to be employed at suitable intervals along the electric-railroad line to afford sufi icient steadying means to prevent lateral swaying and vibration of the trol- =ley-wire with respect to the road-bed under the action of gusts of wind or other force,.and

hence to maintain the trolley-wire in efficient centered relation with respect to the roadway and the vertical'plane ofoperation of the trolley. It will also be seen that .I provide a construction which is exceedingly simple-and wherein the use of :a trolley-wire carrying high-tension currents Lfor electric-railway service is rendered safe and practicable.

Having now set forth the object and :na-

'ture of my invention and a construction: embodying the same-and the manner of .applying=thesame to practicaluse, what I claim as new and'useful and of:my own-invention, and

desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a trolley-wireor other conductor, and a catenary suspension therefor, of an insulated steadying device one endof which-is clamped to the trolleywire or conductor and the other end ofwhich has a pivotal or hinge attachmentto a sta- .ally supported to permit of movement in a vertical plane, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with a trolley-wire of other conductor, and acatenary suspension therefor, of an arm, aninsulated support to which one end of said arm is hinged or pivoted, the other end of said arm being fastened to the trolley-Wire or conductor, as and for the :purpose set forth.

-or conductor for-freely suspending the latter, of a steadying-arm, andan insulated support upon which said arm ispivotally mounted at one end, the other end of said arm being con- 'nected to the trolley-wire, as'and for thepurpose set forth. 4

6. Atrolley-Wire, means for freely suspending the same, and a hinged or pivoted arm having its free end fastened to the trolleywire for reventing lateral swinging or vibra- .tionof-t e same, as a nd-for the purpose set forth.

7. A trolley-wire, means for freely suspending the same, and aninsulated,pivotally-su iportedlarnrhaving itsfreeendfastened to t e trolley-wire for preventing lateral swinging .or vibration thereof, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. HA trolley-wire, :a catenary suspension for such wire, and a pivotally-supported arm the freeend of which is fastened to the wire EfOI :preventing lateral swing or vibration thereo'f, as and for the purpose'set forth.

In'witness whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand, this 30th day of March, ]904,in tl1e presence of the subscribing witnesses.

BUDD J. JONES. Witnesses:

C. H. SEEM, :S. :E. DAR-BY. 

